The
.45 Glock Auto Pistol has not exactly taken the world by
storm, but it remains a viable choice for those who prefer the Glock
pistol. The Glock Model 37 in .45 GAP
is the only Glock pistol I own. I prefer the .45 caliber to all
others but the Glock Model 21 is simply too large for my average
size hands. So, when the Glock Model 37 was introduced I decided
to give the piece a try. This decision was alloyed by the
adoption of the Glock Model 37 by the Georgia State Patrol
and the New York State Patrol as well. The GSP's move was
a natural evolution in weapon craft. They felt that the Glock
Model 22 .40 pistol has given acceptable results but the new
Model 37 would give superior ballistics in a comparable package.
The
NYSP move was prompted by poor results by the 9mm Glock then
issued. The pistol was reliable enough and easy to use well but
has proven less than effective in a number of critical
incidents. In one of the incidents a young trooper was killed
after engaging two bank robbers in gunfire with his 9mm Glock.
He hit one of them four times. The NYSP has previously issued
.45 caliber revolvers and the Smith and Wesson Model 13
.357 Magnum revolver was developed especially for them. The
reasoning behind adoption of the 9mm is highly debatable but now
the Glock 17 has been replaced.
I
originally obtained a Glock Model 37 in order to produce a
report on the adoption of the Glock by the NYSP. After the
initial evaluation I was impressed enough with the pistol to
include it in my modest defensive battery. The Glock is easy
enough to shoot well, it is reliable, and it is accurate enough
for personal defense. While I prefer the 1911 system it is OK to
have a Glock every once in a while. More 1911 fans than will
admit it keep a Glock as a truck gun or just in case we do not
wish to mar the finish on our pet Colt .45. But I would not give
house room to a pistol that cannot defense the owner. The Glock
is a good companion in that regard.
The
.45 GAP is a relatively new cartridge. I have handloaded it to
an extent, using quality Starline
Brass, Hodgdon Titegroup and Winchester
231 Power, and various 185 grain JHP bullets. Extreme care must
be taken in loading this number. Cartridge case space is limited
and pressure runs up quickly with small increments of powder.
Just the same the .45 GAP is not a high pressure number like the
.40 Smith and Wesson or .357 SIG. The .45 GAP operates at a
modest pressure in .45 ACP +P territory.
I
was surprised to learn that Cor-Bon has not one but four loads
available for the .45 GAP. These include the Pow'R
Ball and DPX line as well as the standard JHP line and a
surprise. The .45 GAP is also available in the Performance Match
line, a performance grade loading designed to maximize accuracy.
Since I have used Cor-Bon ammunition in many of my defensive
pistols from the very first introduction of hyper velocity 9mm
and 45 cartridges, I decided to give the cartridges a hard look.
My
personal Glock has proven quite accurate. I have found the Glock
21 to be among the most accurate Glock pistols, and the Model 37
carries on that tradition. A number of my handloads produced
groups in the two to two and one half inch range at twenty five
yards. This is good service grade accuracy. I am certain a
superior set of sights would narrow the groups a bit and also
aid in all around shooting. The Glock sights are bulky and I
have seen too many front sights drug off during draws to allow a
hard use Glock to retain the front sight for long. I am leaning
toward the Wilson Combat sights but I will address that
concern at a later date.
I
use moderate-velocity handloads for practice in all of my
handguns. I am very familiar with the Montana Gold
bullets used in the Performance Match loading. This load would
be tested on a different basis than the others. The Performance
Match load would need to prove accurate and clean burning to
achieve high marks and also it should produce moderate recoil.
In all particulars I was not disappointed. The Performance Match
load is a pleasant load to fire, with moderate recoil. The Model
37 .45 GAP has less recoil than many service pistols, due in
part to the low pressure of the cartridge and in part to a
polymer frame that absorbs recoil as the pistol flexes
in firing.
When bench resting the pistol off a solid rest I obtained
groups of two to three inches for five shots. I am probably not
the best hand with the Glock trigger but just the same these are
pleasing results.
The
personal defense loads are hotter as might be expected. There
are two light bullets loads of 160 and 165 grains and one 200
grain loading. I tested the 165 grain Pow'R Ball first. The
concept of the round nose hollow point bullet invented by Cor-Bon
and Peter Pi is simple. The bullet will feed in any
handgun that will feed a round nose bullet. While the Glock is a
good feeder there are also compact 1911 pistols chambered for
the GAP cartridge. I have never met a 1911 that didn’t fit my
hand so a smaller 1911 frame is a debatable exercise, but then
sometimes we make things simply because we can. The Cor-Bon
Pow'R Ball would be just the ticket to ensure feed reliability.
From the Glock Model 37 this load breaks about 1085 fps. The
polymer ball in the nose ensures expansion no matter what
obstacles may be met.
I like this load, it is a good option especially for
apartment dwellers.
The
standard 200 grain JHP load is a good load of the type that
remains Cor-Bon's bread and butter. The wide mouth hollow point
opened well in wet newsprint, plumping up to well over .75 inch.
The load burns clean and achieves good accuracy, practically on
a footing with the Performance Match load. Velocity is 966 fps,
just over the claimed 950 fps. This means the velocity should
still be up to par in the compact Glock pistols, ensuring
expansion. This is a fine general purpose defense load for the
.45 GAP.
The
DPX load is a very interesting loading. This one uses the 160
grain Barnes all copper hollowpoint. The Barnes bullet
penetrates in the ideal range. If a felon has his arms extended
toward you - as in firing at you - your projectiles may have to
penetrate heavy arm bone and perhaps heavy clothing as well to
prove effective. The DPX loads in all calibers have that
ability. The Barnes bullet expands well. The nose is softer and
thinner than the shank of the bullet. This results in good
expansion while the shank remains solid and insures adequate
penetration. I have discovered that even when meeting hard
intermediate barriers the Barnes bullet remains intact,
resulting in ideal penetration. Overall, the DPX is a strong
choice for personal defense. Of the four Cor-Bon loads I prefer
the DPX load for all around use. This load has proven accurate
enough and has the ideal balance of expansion and penetration,
with penetration the first rule in a combat handgun cartridge.
After
just a few months of service we now have several outstanding
loads for the .45 GAP. Take a hard look at these selections and
choose the load that suits your personal scenario. I think that
Cor-Bon has done a good job with these loads.
R.K.
Campbell
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